Philippians 1:18

The Text: What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and therein I rejoice, yea and will rejoice.

The Meaning Given To It is one that seeks justification for a concept of fellowship with religious people that is very broad and ignores all differences in teaching and practice. We are told that rather than speak out against men such as Billy Graham, for example, and label them false teachers, we should be thankful for they are at least telling people about Christ in spite of whatever differences we might have with them in other things they teach and practice.

The Context: Paul is writing from a Roman prison ("me in my bonds", 1:17). He says that while imprisoned there were those who, for what reason we don't know, wanted to "raise up affliction for me in my bonds", vs. 17.

The Meaning: First of all notice that Paul says "Christ is proclaimed" by these men. What does it mean to proclaim Christ? It means to preach exactly what Christ preached and what he, through the Holy Spirit (Jo. 16:13-15), revealed to others that they were to preach. Are we free to preach anything other than this? Read Gal.1:6-9. Those who do this are to be anathema or accursed. What should our attitude be toward those who don't preach Christ. Study 2 John, especially vss. 9-11. Those who don't abide in the teaching of Christ don't have God and those who come and don't bring with them this teaching are to be shunned.

Now in view of these things, do you believe our text is teaching that we should be thankful for such men as Billy Graham and others? While Mr. Graham is certainly a man to be admired because of the purity of his life and his scandal-free ministry, there is at least one area in which his teaching is not pure. Mr. Graham does not believe that baptism is for the remission of sins and yet Jesus taught that it was (Mk. 16:15-16). In this very vital area it cannot be said that "Christ is proclaimed" when Billy Graham talks to people about what do in order to be saved.

Our text, in its context, finds application in people with impure attitude rather than those with impure doctrine. Paul faults their motive and we need to limit our application to such men. As difficult as it might be, we need to be thankful for those who truly preach Christ but whose motivation we might be suspicious of. We should never be thankful for those who preach error.

David Smitherman